Ernst sees ‘many, many’ hurdles before women achieve equal representation

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sen. Joni Ernst sees her election as the first woman to represent Iowans in Congress as progress, but said there are 'many, many more hurdles yet to go” before women achieve balanced representation in elected office.

Ernst is scheduled to receive the Milestone Award Sunday in recognition of her November 2014 election. The award will be presented by 50-50 in 2020, a bipartisan, issue-neutral initiative with the goal that by 2020 - the 100th anniversary of the year women acquired the right to vote in the United States - half of Iowa's Legislature and congressional delegation will be female and the state will have a female governor.

Bonnie Campbell, the only woman elected Iowa attorney general who went on to serve in President Bill Clinton's administration, will receive the Equity Award at that ceremony, which has been presented annually since 2012 in recognition of a woman's significant contribution to equity.

In her weekly conference call with reporters, Ernst, a freshman Republican who previously served in county government and in the Iowa Senate, said she's proud to be a part of 50-50's work.

'We are reaching women of all ages who are interested in serving their communities,” she said.

50-50 in 2020 doesn't look at policy issues, Ernst explained, but simply encourages women to run for office.

'Whether they are Democrat, Republican, independent, you name it, we would just like to see more women engaged” in elected offices at all levels, she said.

Although women comprise about 52 percent of Iowa voters, they currently hold just seven seats in the Iowa Senate and 27 seats in the Iowa House. Although women have served in statewide elected office, none has served as governor.

There are 20 women serving in the U.S. Senate and 84 in the House.

'So I do think it is important that we continue moving the ball forward so that we do have a balanced Legislature, balanced boards,” Ernst said. 'It's not something that necessarily needs to be mandated by government, but certainly something that should be encouraged.”

For more on the awards and 50-50 in 2020, visit www.50-50in2020.org/.